Human nature being what it is, crimes do happen even in the most peaceful places. Whenever a violent or especially grisly crime hits the headlines, people wonder what causes other people to commit crimes. Defining the criminal mind is not an exact science; until now, there is no single comprehensive explanation for why people commit crimes. People who commit crimes come from different backgrounds, lifestyle and social status. Some of them become well-known because of media exposure, which is either because of the identity or family background of the suspect or the victim, or the nature of the crime committed. Here is a list of some of the people in the Philippines who have become suspects and/or accused and/or convicted in criminal cases, then and now.

This lists the persons accused and/or convicted in cases that became cause célèbres. Their names have become familiar to the general public due to media exposure about the cases in which they were involved.
( Click each name if you want to see their background info. )